J. Wellington Wimpy, of Popeye comics fame, had a favorite expression. It went like this: “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a cheeseburger today.” As the Earth gets hotter and hotter, most countries have made commitments to reduce their climate warming emissions by 2030, or 2050, or 2077, or 2100. Their position papers and high level speeches are filled with passionate promises and flowery language, but their actions seldom match their pious protestations.

This week, Canada and the EU both backed away from their existing commitments to reduce motor vehicle emissions. Oh, they still promise to get around to it, just not now, while political turmoil is roiling their economies. The promises will be kept — make no mistake about that — just not now. They need breathing room to attend to the high prices resulting from America’s failed effort to wipe Iran off the map and to address extreme right wing movements who threaten to bring down their governments. There are always plenty of reasons to delay, delay, and delay some more.

According to Canadian website Electric Autonomy, the government of Canada this week announced a freeze on its vehicle emissions mandates for three years, while promising to still reach its goal of 75 percent of new car sales to be electric by 2035. That and three loonies will get you a doughnut at Tim Horton’s.

The current standard is 172 grams of greenhouse gas emissions per mile (107 grams/km) and it will remain at the level now through the end of 2029.

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